Date: 10/30/12 7:17 pm
From: Andy Martin <apmartin2...>
Subject: Re: [MDBirding] Violette's Lock (C&O Canal--Mont. Co.)


I was not able to get out to Violette's Lock until about 12:30 today. Upon
arrival, Dave Czaplak, Dave Powell and Jared Fisher put me on the Red
Phalarope that was over near the VA shore near the start of the rapids.

The Arctic and 2 Common Terns, Pomarine Jaeger and Red-necked Phalarope
reported and seen prior to my arrival failed to re-show again. I did get a
Black Scoter, 13 Brant in flight, Laughing Gull and a Bonaparte's. Also,
2-3 flocks of Dunlin were flying about.

Most exciting moment occurred in late afternoon when Tim Guida yelled out
"Black Skimmer"! and directed us (Dave Czaplak, Brendan Lanpher and I) to
the bird perched on a large debris raft floating downstream. Dave quickly
phoned Rob Hilton and Lisa Shannon to come back as they had just left to go
home. They got back just in time to view the bird in flight as it had
lifted off the debris raft when it went over the Seneca Breaks. We even got
to see the bird skim a bit in the muddy Potomac. Not sure but think this
might be a Mont Co 1st record. Dave Czaplak could not recollect a skimmer
in Montgomery. Only some sightings from DC years back. I don't see any
mention of Black Skimmer in the abridged MD data base on the MOS Website
and there are no records of Black Skimmers in Montgomery in eBird. eBird
does have a couple inland records from PA in 9/03 in the wake Hurricane
Isabelle. A great county bird that was never even on my radar.

While in the Violette's lock parking lot just before leaving, I looked up
(bare eyes) to see a stout looking swallow fly over about 20 feet above me.
Bad lighting did not allow me to get any color. Its tail had couple short
blunt lobes on either side. Not a sharp forked tail like a Barn. Did not
look Tree Swallow-ish either. It dipped low and flew down and out of sight
in between two stone walls that make up the C&O canal lock structure. I did
not see it fly back out from between the walls (but it may have). Dave C,
Brendan and Tim helped me look for it for about 10 minutes but we saw
nothing. Probably should not admit this but after the others left, I
stomped on the two small bridges that cross the canal and jostled the lock
doors to see if I could scare something out, but no luck. Maybe it was just
a late Tree or Rough-wing but with Cave on the brain and the time of year,
had to try. Like fishing, there's always the one that gets away.

Back at home, earlier in day had a Purple Finch, Eastern Towhee and an
newly arrived Junco at my feeders.

An outstanding day of birding!

Andy Martin
Gaithersburg, MD



On Tue, Oct 30, 2012 at 4:31 PM, Lanpher, Brendan <
<BLanpher...> wrote:

> Black skimmer at Violettes now. Skimming just upstream of rapids.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 30, 2012, at 12:39 PM, "Mary Ann Todd" <maryatodd2...> wrote:
>
> Dave has also had Brant, red-necked phal, and a still present red
> phalarope.
>
> Mary Ann Todd
> Germantown, MD
> <maryatodd2...>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Moore <epiphenomenon9...>
> To: Maryland Birding <mdbirding...>
> Sent: Tue, Oct 30, 2012 11:23 am
> Subject: [MDBirding] Violette's Lock (C&O Canal--Mont. Co.)
>
> Just wanted to let people know I was here this morning with Dave
> Czaplak. Dave spotted a tern that flew upriver fast and that I never
> got on; he believes it was an Arctic. There was also a flock of
> Laughing Gulls on the Virginia side on the golf course; occasionally
> some flew over the river giving me a long-awaited county bird.
>
> Dave remained when I left at 9:45am, and may have seen more. Road to
> Violette's was fine this morning, but I believe there's supposed to be
> a chance of flooding this evening and tomorrow morning, so use
> caution.
>
> Good Birding!
> Jim Moore
> Rockville
>
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